Midtown Lunch » Woorijip

My New Favorite Dish at Woorijip is $1

Brownie — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:45:49 +0000

I’ve been going to Woorijip (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th) for the better part of a decade, so I’ve seen much change come to this bargain cafeteria-style, almost-24 hour, K-Town stalwart. While the menu is constantly evolving and the portions do seem a bit smaller these days, it’s still a bargain lunch lover’s paradise. Case in point, my new favorite item is just $1…

While many of the items at Woorijip are a la carte, if you keep your eyes peeled they generally have a few marked lunch specials that include choice of either a soup or salad (which go for $1 when purchased separately). I typically opt for the miso soup, but the other day I noticed that they had a spicy bean sprout soup. Made from a light, clear, spicy broth with plenty of crunchy bean sprouts, the soup is warming yet still refreshing tastes far less salty than the miso they serve. I had this with their pan fried tofu, vegetable over brown rice lunch special for $5. If you’re looking to stay under $5 for lunch this is a great choice to either add the other a la carte dishes or pair with their lunch deals. Since trying this soup I’ve gone back several times for just the soup to bulk up a pricier lunch at nearby Food Gallery 32.

Woorjip, 12 W. 32nd St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-244-1115

5 Years of Eating at Woorijip, It Still Surprises Me

Donny T. — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:45:41 +0000

It’s been over half a year since I ate lunch at Woorijip (32nd btw. B’way+5th). I used to work around that area so back in the day this was my go-to lunch spot for Korean food. Their kimbap may not be the freshest but they sure have one heck of a by the pound buffet. I had plans to meet some friends at the newly opened Beerparc and was thinking a return trip for lunch might be in order. And what’s this? Hello lovely food item that I have never seen before!

As you can see I’m a huge fan of fried foods! Fried seaweed wrapped with japchae inside, fried meat patties, fried fish and some fried rice. On the top right corner is a salad and some mung bean jelly (had to add some “healthiness” to the meal). But the thing I was most excited about was the bacon wrapped asparagus. 5 years of eating at Woorijip, and I had never seen this bit of deliciousness before. The asparagus may have been a little over cooked (what do expect at a buffet like this!) but the pork was tender and the whole thing was covered in a sauce similar to teriyaki.

I could eat at Woorijip everyday and would never get tired of it. They churn out solid tasting foods and sometimes tasty surprises like the bacon wrapped asparagus or the pork spare ribs I found last August. Heck even Ruth Reichl is a fan.

Woorjip, 12 W. 32nd St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-244-1115

My First Taste of Woorijip’s New Spicy Chicken Wrap

Chris H. — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:30:25 +0000

What would $3.50 get you for lunch? A plain slice? A couple of dirty water hot dogs? Maybe a small cup of soup? At Woorijip (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th), $3.50 can buy you a modest, yet filling lunch. It’s a well known fact that Woorijip is one of the best lunch deals in the vicinity of K-town. We at Midtownlunch have always loved this place for a variety of reason – the fair prices, the variety of food, and their willingness to tinker with special menu items, for better or for worse. I’m personally a frequent customer (I think I fill up a loyalty card at least once a month), and take a quirky delight in sampling any new menu items as soon as I notice them. And today’s new menu item happened to be a spicy chicken wrap, priced at only $2.50.

Despite the modest size, the wrap is packed with chunks of chicken that have been lightly breaded and fried, and then coated with a spicy sweet glaze. There’s a leafy green or two floating around for textural contrast, but this wrap is almost all chicken. It’s also surprisingly hearty, requiring at least 8-9 bites to take down. For merely the price of a subway ride, I found myself nearly full on this wrap.

Woorijip also offers filling side items such as kongnamul guk (bean sprout soup), miyeok guk (seaweed soup) and warm rice for $1 each. I rounded out my chicken wrap with a warming bowl of the former, which is pleasantly refreshing and not overly spicy despite the intimidating red hue. For about the same price as your morning grande mochachino, it’s very easy to assemble a satisfying lunch at Woorijip. Now that folks, is a bargain.

Woorjip, 12 W. 32nd St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-244-1115

Woorijip Serves Spaghetti & Meatballs?!

Zach Brooks — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:30:18 +0000

We love Woorijip, the Korean take out spot on 32nd btw. B’way+5th, but not everything at Woorijip is loved. For example, as obvious as this sounds in retrospect, don’t bother with their version of spaghetti and meatballs.

Woorijip Now Serving “Korean Fried Chicken”

Jenn Sit — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:15:47 +0000

Going off a tip from Tuesday’s obligatory Kyochon (5th Ave. btw. 32nd+33rd) post, I popped into the newly renovated Woorijip (32nd St. btw. 5th+6th Ave.) and indeed found some great fried chicken wings on the hot bar. Though they weren’t covered in a sweet hot glaze, said sauce could be found on the side for self-spoonage, which allowed the skin to stay crispy longer (there’s an audible crackle on these despite sitting out on the buffet). Woorijip’s buffet selections rotate, so you won’t be guaranteed wings everyday, but you’ll be sure to find an array of other fried goods to satisfy and with the new renovations, there’s no more gauntlet of buffet-related death. As for Kyochon? Girrl, I don’t need your fancy egg table and high maintenance lines.

Woorijip Reorganizes, Shuts Down Noodle Bar?

The ML Team — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:30:12 +0000

Lunch’er Jenn sent in this photo and report about Woorijip (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th) yesterday:

“Notice anything different?? No more Woorijip Gauntlet of Death. The back area where the noodlebar was is now walled up and lined with the hot food units that used to take up the middle section. The beverages that used to be on the right side have also been moved to the fridges across the way. Lots more room to walk now, thank goodness — but, where will the noodles be served?”

Considering what Blondie and Brownie noticed back in November, this isn’t a huge surprise. ~~We’re guessing the noodle bar is gone…~~ UPDATE IN THE COMMENTS: “A couple of my co-workers hit the noodle bar yesterday. Apparently it’s still there but all the way in the back so maybe it was just tough to find.”

Is Woorijip Distancing Itself From Their Noodle Bar?

Zach Brooks — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:30:09 +0000

Woorijip is possibly my favorite place to eat at in K-Town, but nobody has had great things to say about their sporadically open noodle bar. The latest report from Blondie and Brownie reveals that they’re now closed on Monday, only accept cash, and have their own punch cards. (Are they even owned by Woorijip?)

Lunch’er Steve Reports: Woorijip’s Spicy Pork Belly

Zach Brooks — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:15:50 +0000

Lunch’er Steve sends word that Woorijip (the awesome Korean fast food joint on 32nd btw. B’way+5th) has added a new item to their repertoire: “Stopped in for my weekly visit to Woo Ri Jip and found Spicy Pork Belly in the back cooler and had to get it. 5 good sized slices for $3. As expected for that price, not high quality. I ate it cold and it was tough, but the spicy sauce made it tasty. Apologies for the cell phone pic quality.” I think I speak for everyone when I say no apology necessary! Thanks for the tip…

Warning: $18 of Food is All The Trays Can Take At the Woorijip Buffet

Zach Brooks — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:15:15 +0000

The Tray Can Only Take So Much (To Be Exact, 9 Times As Much As What You See Here.)

If you are a longtime reader of Midtown Lunch (and a lover of Korean food) you are no doubt aware of Woorijip’s by the lb buffet (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th). My eyes and stomach are both large, so I have always found the “pay what your lunch weighs” a very dangerous game to engage in. But Woorijip has so many amazing things to choose from and the buffet is only way to get a little bit of everything… or a lot of everything, as this lunch’er seemed to do recently. Naturally, his tale is a cautionary one…

“Just wanted to tell you and your readers an extremely important fact. I am sure many of us have put the per pound lunch table trays to the test on a hungry day. Recently I rolled by Woorijip, the Korean deli on 32nd at 11:45 am, the food trays were fresh, warm, and not picked over. I could not have been more excited.

The lineup was epic: The cold side featured heaping treys of: Pork Belly with Soy Ginger sauce, Kimbap, Pickled veggies, rice cakes, baby octopus. Half way through the line my tray was already full…”

“The warm side: Sweet and sour pork, meatballs, breaded steak cutlet (! holy crap this was good), chicken wings (blow away BonTon), bulgogi, egg pancakes each one heaped and fresh …still warm.

I couldn’t stop and it was weighing down heavy on my hand. I was VERY careful to segregate my food. There was no way I could keep everything separate so I settled for Hot on one side cold on the other.

I got in the very short line :) and watched as they took my masterpiece from my hands and put in on the scale: $12 > $15 > $18.73!!! The tray flexed deftly

All of a sudden… CRACK!!! The perfectly engineered styrofoam tray had cracked on the meatball / wing side!

Absolutely devastating, my hungry mans masterpiece was now sliding all around the scale as I watched in horror.

Anyway I gathered up another tray and was allowed to re-execute my selections- this time with a smarter pre-informed strategy.

Clearly $18 is the magic $$$/weight number that stressed the great strength of the styro lunch tray. Watch it when you go over, and be sure to always balance correctly, especially diagonally oppposite your stablizing hand!”

THAT IS AMAZING. You sir are a pillar of our community, and should serve as an example for the rest of us- who should always be striving to push the limits of lunching here in Midtown and beyond!

Woorijip Now Selling Korean Blood Sausage

Zach Brooks — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:45:37 +0000

I don’t usually eat lunch in Midtown on the weekends (why would you!?!), but occasionally it will happen. Like on Saturday when I found myself in Koreatown buying ingredients to make homemade kimchi. I stopped in to pick up a little lunch at Woorijip (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th) and noticed something I had never seen before: korean blood sausage (or soondae.) Nice. It was in the refrigerated section in the back, so it wasn’t as good as it would have been had it been warm (I don’t like microwaving things) but the flavor was still good. Made with cellophane noodles, the blood flavor was actually pretty mild (overwhelmed a bit by the intense garlic flavor.) I’m guessing there are much better versions of this to be had on 32nd street, but all in all it was a fun treat, and not nearly as offal tasting as you would expect.